Capacitive bonding of devices

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to systems and methods that facilitate wireless device communications and configuration. A detection component identifies N devices that are coupled together via a biological medium, N being an integer, wherein the medium includes direct or indirect touching to a device or devices. After biological contact, a configuration component initiates a configuration between a subset of the devices. Although configurations and/or other communications can be conducted through a medium such as the human body, the present invention can employ an initial touch to identify respective devices whereby other electronic configuration sequences commence without further device contact. Other aspects include chain touching between users and/or devices to facilitate contact between the devices. Location detection components can also be provided to identify when users are present near a device, the detected presence to commence further automated procedures, and/or the location detection components can enable devices to identify other devices in a crowded wireless environment.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates generally to systems and methodsthat facilitate communications between devices, systems, processes,and/or individuals. More particularly, the present invention relates toconfiguration of wireless systems in accordance with a biological mediumsuch as via a human touch.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Wireless and other electronic devices such as laptop and handheldcomputers are commonplace today. Other devices commonly employed intoday's high-technology arena include compact disc players,communications devices, (e.g., pagers and cell phones), and personaldata assistants (PDAs) to name but a few examples. As electronicsmanufacturing techniques have improved, weight and power consumptionrequirements of many of these devices have decreased. At the same time,the capabilities and complexities of various devices have similarlyincreased, however. Consequently, with the vast array of network devicesat one's disposal, it is often times desirable to have one or more ofthese devices communicate and/or exchange data with one or more otherdevices. Given complexities such as differing interface andconfiguration requirements, having devices communicate with one anothercan be time-consuming and challenging for even the most technologicallyastute user.

[0003] In just one example of configuration complexity, desktopcomputers typically interface with a plurality of different devices.Most computers provide interface access though different couplingsystems such as serial ports, parallel ports, USB ports, Ethernet ports,and wireless ports such as via an infrared technology. With respect towireless technology, many computers routinely employ a wireless mouseand/or a wireless keyboard, for example. If a wireless keyboard were tobe adapted to an existing computer, then before the keyboard becomesoperable, a set-up procedure typically takes place. This may involveentering codes into the computer as part of a keyboard configurationinstallation routine (e.g., control panel codes to enable keyboard anduninstall redundant software). More than likely, before properinstallation can commence, a floppy disk or CD is loaded to facilitate aguided or automatic software/hardware configuration. In most cases, thisis achieved within minutes. However, as can be appreciated, if a largenumber of devices needed to be installed—such as in a modem SoftwareEngineering department, and respective devices had many wireless and/orother components associated therewith, then the task of creating afunctional system can be quite daunting.

[0004] In some cases, networks have alleviated a portion of the burdenassociated with installing a large computer system. This usuallyinvolves downloading a software configuration package to respectivecomputers already established on a network. When wireless technology isinvolved, however, there may not be a preexisting network established inwhich to perform the download. Thus, more laborious procedures such aspreviously noted with respect to guided configuration packages aremanually applied to establish a network connection or configuration.Typically, these packages are employed to initially establish thewireless network connection before a subsequent configuration downloadoccurs.

[0005] As many are familiar when installing a device, a compact disk(CD) or other media is generally loaded on a computer followed byexecution of a set-up routine. The routine generally involves anautomated sequence whereby a user is asked a series of questionspertinent to the installation at hand. The final sequence of theinstallation is typically followed by a “Finish” sequence wherein thecomputer is instructed to complete a configuration in accordance withthe user's previous selections or answers to automated questions. Ifdozens of devices were to be configured in a nonexistent network,however, and if the ultimate network interconnection configuration waspreviously unknown, then the task of creating the network vialoading/configuring many devices would clearly be time-consuming at theleast.

[0006] The above loading procedures can also be problematic whennetworks have to be rearranged based upon unforeseen conditions. Forexample, in a large office environment, it may be decided before handthat three wireless networks are to be initially configured orinstalled, wherein respective networks are associated with many networkdevices. Upon physical installation of the system, it may turn out thatmore or less than three network configurations are optimally suited forthe installation. In this case, the above noted procedures may have tobe reinitiated in order to reconfigure the network. Similar problems canalso occur as situations change such as when expanding or downsizing anetwork based upon ever changing business needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The following presents a simplified summary of the invention inorder to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention.This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is notintended to identify key/critical elements of the invention or todelineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to presentsome concepts of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to themore detailed description that is presented later.

[0008] The present invention relates to systems and methods thatfacilitate device configurations and communications in a wirelessnetwork environment. In one aspect of the present invention, abiological medium such as the human body is employed as a capacitor (orother impedance/physical characteristic) to pair wireless devices byhaving a user (or users) touch the devices in a concurrent manner.Touching the devices concurrently facilitates a nominal flow ofelectricity between the devices in order that subsystems within thedevices can be activated. For example, configuration and securityprocedures can be initiated while mitigating interference with otherwireless devices that may reside nearby, and preserving the security ofthe configuration information. Thus, in one example, wireless devicescan identify each other in a rapid manner via a simple touch and alsodiscriminate from unrelated devices in a crowded network environment(e.g., pairing a wireless keyboard, a computer by momentarily touchingeach device and the computer).

[0009] In one example of the present invention, peripherals such asphones, mice, headsets and so forth can be easily and quickly adapted torespective wireless devices such as computers, personal digitalassistants, cell phones and/or other electronic/wireless devices. Thesedevices may employ a specific contact point for touching and/or provideother contact mediums such as utilizing the case of the device. Whenthese points are engaged by the user (or users), components in thedevices can initiate configuration routines through the human body as aconduit and/or merely employ the human body as an initial identifierbetween devices, whereby the respective devices complete theconfiguration after the initial identifying sequence.

[0010] It is to be appreciated the present invention is not limited todevice-to-device configurations through the human body. For example, asingle user may touch or approach multiple devices in a concurrentmanner to achieve wireless compatibility between devices. In anothercase, multiple users may chain themselves (e.g., more than one userholding/touching hands between two or more devices) in order to bridge agap between devices, wherein the chain is then employed as theconducting medium for communications.

[0011] In yet another case, when current begins to flow after touching,electrical pulses or data packets may be generated to facilitate uniqueidentification between devices. Still other aspects include identifyingor characterizing users according to an impedance profile (e.g.,touching a sensor and recording/storing the impedance profile of theuser). The impedance profile can then be employed in such automatedprocedures as user identification, security procedures, pairingprocedures, and/or providing device address information upon touch.

[0012] Although direct or indirect physical touching may be employedwith the present invention to activate/identify respective devices,other techniques may also be employed. For example, a location detector(e.g., piezoelectric material/accelerometer that senses touch ormovement) may be utilized to detect a user's presence within proximityof respective devices to be operatively coupled, wherein configurationor other communications sequences can then be initiated upon detectionof the user's proximity to the devices. Location detection can also beapplied to determine respective device locations, wherein after beingactivated by the user's touch, the activated devices then identify theirlocations in order to further communicate and discriminate from otherwireless devices.

[0013] To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certainillustrative aspects of the invention are described herein in connectionwith the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspectsare indicative of various ways in which the invention may be practiced,all of which are intended to be covered by the present invention. Otheradvantages and novel features of the invention may become apparent fromthe following detailed description of the invention when considered inconjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014]FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating biologicalbonding and device communications in accordance with an aspect of thepresent invention.

[0015]FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a physical connection betweendevices in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.

[0016]FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating chain configurations inaccordance with an aspect of the present invention.

[0017]FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating biologicalidentification in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.

[0018]FIG. 5 is a system diagram illustrating example applications inaccordance with an aspect of the present invention.

[0019]FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating signal generation in accordancewith an aspect of the present invention.

[0020]FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram illustrating alternativecommunications procedures in accordance with an aspect of the presentinvention.

[0021]FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating location detection in accordancewith an aspect of the present invention.

[0022]FIG. 9 is a flow diagram illustrating biological bonding andcommunications in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.

[0023]FIG. 10 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a suitableoperating environment in accordance with an aspect of the presentinvention.

[0024]FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram of a sample-computingenvironment with which the present invention can interact.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] The present invention relates to systems and methods thatfacilitate wireless device communications and configuration. A detectioncomponent identifies N devices that are coupled together via abiological medium, N being an integer, wherein the medium includesdirect or indirect touching to a device or devices. After biologicalcontact, a configuration component initiates a configuration between asubset of the devices. Although configurations and/or othercommunications can be conducted through a medium such as the human body(e.g., network addresses established between devices through body duringcontact), the present invention can employ an initial touch to identifyrespective devices whereby other electronic configuration sequencescommence without further device contact. Other aspects include chaintouching between users and/or devices to facilitate contact between thedevices (e.g., multiple users touching each other to make contact withrespective devices). Location detection components can also be providedto identify when users are present near a device, the detected presenceto commence further automated procedures, and/or the location detectioncomponents can enable devices to identify other devices in a crowdedwireless environment.

[0026] As used in this application, the terms “component,” “service,”“profile,” and “system” are intended to refer to a computer-relatedentity, either hardware, a combination of hardware and software,software, or software in execution. For example, a component may be, butis not limited to being, a process running on a processor, a processor,an object, an executable, a thread of execution, a program, and/or acomputer. By way of illustration, both an application running on aserver and the server can be a component. One or more components mayreside within a process and/or thread of execution and a component maybe localized on one computer and/or distributed between two or morecomputers.

[0027] As used herein, the term “inference” refers generally to theprocess of reasoning about or inferring states of the system,environment, and/or user from a set of observations as captured viaevents and/or data. Inference can be employed to identify a specificcontext, location, identity, or action, or can generate a probabilitydistribution over states, for example. The inference can beprobabilistic—that is, the computation of a probability distributionover states of interest based on a consideration of data and events.Inference can also refer to techniques employed for composinghigher-level events from a set of events and/or data. Such inferenceresults in the construction of new events or actions from a set ofobserved events and/or stored event data, whether or not the events arecorrelated in close temporal proximity, and whether the events and datacome from one or several event and data sources.

[0028] Referring initially to FIG. 1 a system 100 illustrates biologicalbonding and device communications in accordance with an aspect of thepresent invention. The system 100 employs one or more devices 110-120that can be adapted to communicate across a wireless network 130 (e.g.,infrared, electromagnetic, broadband, and employing such standards asBluetooth, Wireless Application Protocols, IR/DA, 802.11, Ultra Widebandtechnology, and so forth). The devices 110-120 can include substantiallyany type of electronic device capable of communicating across thewireless network 130 (e.g., computers, laptops, phones, pagers, personaldigital assistants (PDA), keyboard, mouse, headphones, and so forth). Inorder to establish a network connection or facilitate furthercommunications, a biological bonding 134 occurs between at least one ofthe devices 110-120 and at least one other device. After bonding, one ormore device configurations and/or other communications can occur at 140.

[0029] In general, the biological bonding 134 employs a human touch orcontact between devices that enable capacitive coupling between thedevices, wherein signals are transmitted across the capacitive couplingto establish communications between devices. It is to be appreciated,however, that substantially any biologically initiated contact—direct orindirect, can cause coupling in accordance with the present invention.This can include impedance characteristics other than capacitance (e.g.,human body resistance or inductance). For example, a user may haveconductive gloves or clothing that facilitates coupling between the userand the device. In another example, location detection components can beprovided that merely sense a device or user's presence and theidentified location is utilized to trigger further communications. Theseand other coupling/detection aspects are described in more detail below.

[0030] Typically, the biological bonding 134 includes contact by thehuman body which is employed as a capacitor (or other impedance/physicalcharacteristic) to operatively couple the wireless devices 110-120 toother wireless devices by having a user (or users) touch the devices ina concurrent manner. Touching the devices facilitates a nominal flow ofelectricity or current between the devices in order that subsystemswithin the devices can be activated, the subsystems being described inmore detail below. Upon activation, device configurations andcommunications 140 can be initiated while mitigating interference withother wireless devices that may reside nearby.

[0031] As will be described in more detail below, the deviceconfigurations and communications 140 can include automated proceduresto establish the devices 110-120 on the wireless network 130 (e.g.,automated download of code to pair mouse and computer via wirelessconnection). The automated procedures can occur directly through thebiological bonding 134 and/or can occur after an initial bondingsequence (or detection sequence) to activate/identify the respectivedevices 110-120 followed thereafter by further automated procedures orcommunications. Also, it is to be appreciated that power and/or otherinformation may be transmitted between the devices 110-120 and by usingthe body as a conductive medium. Communicated signals may include analogas well as digital signals (e.g., electrical currents, pulses,waveforms, files, and so forth).

[0032] Referring to FIG. 2, a system 200 illustrates a physical couplingbetween devices in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.In this aspect, a physical connection 210 such as a direct or indirecthuman touch is applied to a designated area such as a touch pad 214, 220and/or applied to another area of a device such as case material 230,234. When the physical connection 210 is achieved, electrical currentbegins to flow which can then be sensed by the respective devices (e.g.,impedance detector, or other sensor) to initiate further automatedprocedures such as establishing wireless network connections ortransmitting configuration information between devices, for example.

[0033] The touch pads 214, 220 can be located or associated withsubstantially any area on a device accessible to a user or users. Thesecan include conductive or semi-conductive media capable of facilitatingcurrent flow between devices and through the human body. For example,such materials include copper, gold, silver, conductive plastics, metal,and so forth. The case material 230, 234 is generally associated withthe housing of the device and can include similar materials as the touchpads 214 and 234. This can include conductive coatings, laminates,plastics having conductive properties, and/or other materials thatfacilitate establishing an electrical circuit in accordance withbiological contact with a wireless device. In some cases, touch pads214, 220 may be provided in addition to having respective case materials230, 234 that are also adapted to facilitate electrical activity. As canbe appreciated, the touch pads 214, 220 and case materials 230, 234 caninclude various sizes, shapes, dimensions (e.g., cubic structure),textures, colors or other appearances (e.g., text indicating touch padarea).

[0034] Turning to FIG. 3, a system 300 illustrates chain configurationsin accordance with an aspect of the present invention. In this aspect,various combinations of users and/or wireless devices may be employed inaccordance with the biological bonding previously described. In oneexample, users 310-320 may apply contact indirectly through other usersto one or more devices 330-340. For example, a first user at 310 maytouch the device at 330 and couple to the device 340 though a seconduser 314 and third user at 320. The biological chain formed by users isthen employed to establish communications between the devices 330 and340.

[0035] As can be appreciated, various chaining configurations arepossible. These chains can be employed to span distances and/orconfigure suitable or irregular network configurations. For example, thesecond user 314 may touch one or more other devices 330-340 while stillcompleting the chain between the first device 330 and the third device340. Thus, at reference 350, for example, a single user may establishconnections between many devices (e.g., touch two devices with left footand left hand, touch one device with left elbow, touch one device withright hand, and final device with right foot, in a concurrent manner).At reference 360, multiple users may be chained to establishcommunications between two devices and/or establish connections withmany other devices by respectively touching a device, user, and/orcombination thereof. Alternatively, devices themselves may be employedto complete or facilitate chaining by stacking and/or placing thedevices in contact with one another (e.g., putting devices havingconductive cases side-by-side to form a portion of chain).

[0036] Referring to FIG. 4, a system 400 illustrates biologicalidentification in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. Inthis aspect, a touch input 410 or sensor is analyzed by an impedancedetector 420 to generate one or more keys 424-434 (e.g., key 1 isassociated with measurement 1, key 2 is associated with measurement 2and so forth). The impedance detector 420 analyzes such aspects ascapacitance, inductance, and resistance to determine a biologicalprofile for a respective user employing the touch input 410. Forexample, such detector 420 may measure capacitance directly (e.g.,capacitance meter) and/or indirectly such as placing a human impedancemeasurement received from the touch input 410 into a resonant circuitand measuring a resultant frequency or phase shift. As can beappreciated, various analytical techniques can be employed to determineimpedance or other electrical characteristic.

[0037] After an impedance measurement has been taken, the key data424-434 is stored as user profile data 440. For example, a first usermay generate a measurement key associated with 187.82 picdfarads and asecond key of 327 ohms at 250 megahertz. The respective keys 424-434 arethen stored as a file in the profile data 440 and tagged as beingrelated to the first user. A second user and so forth may be similarlycharacterized and logged in the profile data 440. As will be describedin more detail below, the profile data 440 can then be employed tolaunch one or more other automated applications in accordance with thepresent invention. It is to be appreciated that absolute identity of auser may not always be necessary. For example, a home adult user mayemploy a personal impedance profile to prevent or limit access ofchildren to a home desktop computer (e.g., all impedances above or belowa predetermined threshold are denied or permitted access to thecomputer).

[0038]FIG. 5 is a system 500 illustrating example applications inaccordance with an aspect of the present invention. In this aspect, aprocessor or computer receives user input (e.g., touch input) from abiometric sensor 514, wherein the processor identifies or characterizesthe user as previously described above (e.g., generate one or moreidentification keys). The processor 510 may be associated with a profiledata store 520 that contains past recorded files identifying one or moreusers and respective characteristics. If the input from the biometricsensor 514 matches or is within a predetermined threshold of apreviously stored profile, then one or more automated applications canbe enabled. In one case, a touch and bond application can be initiatedat 530 by the processor 510. For example, if a profile match occurs, anautomatic login procedure can be initiated that facilitates user accessto the processor 510 and associated databases (not shown). In anotherexample, custom screens or other applications can be launched that areassociated with the user. At 534, a touch at the biometric sensor 514may cause a wireless device to automatically know a network address(e.g., if user 1 is identified, then associate wireless device withnetwork address 0030). This can also include automatically providing adevice's network address to the user (e.g., upon touch of biometricsensor, display device network address).

[0039] At 540, a touch and pair application can be performed. This caninclude concurrent touching between devices as described above, and/orcan include touching one device, and then at some time later, touchingone or more other devices, wherein the devices would employ the profiledata 520 to identify each other for a respective network configuration(e.g., one device broadcasting with a code derived from key data in theprofile data store and only those other devices that have also beentouched by the same user responding to the broadcast). At 544, a touchand identify sequence may be initiated. This can include applying one ormore security procedures to enable or disable access to the processor510. For example, before a user can access a particular application orsystem, the user must first be identified via the biometric sensor 514and have a corresponding profile in the profile data store 520.Identification of the user can include employing the profile data aspart of machine authentication and/or authorization procedures thatlimit access to authorized/verified users and/or machines.

[0040]FIG. 6 is a system 600 illustrating signal generation inaccordance with an aspect of the present invention. A device 610 anddevice 620 are touched as previously described, wherein an electricalcurrent 624 flows between devices. When devices are capacitivelycoupled, a current or voltage source (not shown) can transmit currentthough the circuit completed by the user or users. As the current 624flows, a current detector 630 and 640 measures the current (e.g.,transistor/diode detector, voltage divider, amplifier, measure currentsupplied by current or voltage source). From the measured current, adata packet or pulse 644 can be generated over a wireless connection (ormodulated on the touch current 624) from pulse generators 650 and/or660. The data packet or packets 644 are then employed to allow thedevices 610 and/or 620 to identify themselves. For example, if the touchcurrent 624 measures 53 micro amps, then a corresponding data packet canbe generated that is proportional or some derivative of the measuredcurrent (e.g., for every 10 micro amps measured, generate 10 pulses).Since each device has measured or generated approximately the samecurrent, then these respective devices would then be able to identifypulses that were also derived from the measured current. For example,the devices 610 and 620 could send an initial identifying sequencederived from the touch current 624 (e.g., will only correspond withdevices that identify themselves within a predetermined threshold ofpulses), the identifying sequence could then be followed by aconfiguration or other communication sequence. Other devices having notbeen touched would thus be discriminated from the communications betweendevices 610 and 620.

[0041]FIG. 7 is a system 700 illustrating alternative communicationsprocedures in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.Similar to above, a device 710 and device 720 are touched as previouslydescribed, wherein an electrical current 724 flows between devices. Inthis aspect, the touch may only be momentary or intermittent and notallow a full configuration to occur through the body. When devices arecapacitively coupled, a current or voltage source (not shown) cantransmit current though the circuit completed by the user or users. Asthe current 724 flows, a current detector 730 and 740 measures thecurrent as noted above with respect to FIG. 6. From the measuredcurrent, an electrical pulse 744 can be generated over a wirelessconnection from polling/listening components 750 and/or 760. Theelectrical pulse or pulses 744 is then employed to allow the devices 710and/or 720 to identify themselves (e.g., poll for devices havingidentified code).

[0042] In this aspect of the present invention, when the devices 710 and720 are touched, a timestamp 770 and 774 may be recorded. The timestampcan then be employed to uniquely identify devices (e.g., at moment touchcurrent is detected, record time from a high speed clock). The timestampdata can then be encoded as part of the data packets 744 to allow thedevices 710 and 720 communicate in accordance with the encoded stampwhile discriminating these same communications from devices not having asimilar timestamp. Alternatively, a high-speed counter 780 and 784 maybegin counting when current begins to flow and stopped when current isno longer flowing. The counter data may also be encoded as data packets744 during an identifying sequence. As noted above, after respectivedevices have identified themselves, other configuration orcommunications sequences can thereby follow.

[0043]FIG. 8 is a system 800 illustrating location detection inaccordance with an aspect of the present invention. Similar to thesystem depicted in FIG. 7, the system 800 can employ one or more devices810 and 820 generating a touch current 824 across a biological mediumand sensed by current detectors 830 and 840. Also, data packets 844 canbe generated across a wireless connection. In this aspect, locationdetection components 850 and 860 are employed to uniquely identifycommunicating devices. In one example, this can include employing thelocation components 850 and 860 to identify the location of the devices810 and 820 and/or identify the location of the user or users. Forexample, if a suitable location technology were utilized for thelocation detection components 850 and 860, after a touch current 824 wasdetected, location information could be employed to facilitate wirelesscommunications between all devices within a predetermined proximity of afixed location (e.g., establish communications with all devices within20 foot radius of the devices 850 and 860). In one example, a user maypull a PDA out of their pocket in the airport and based on the touch, itmay automatically search out and try to establish connections (e.g.,service discovery connections) with any devices within the range basedon determined location coordinates.

[0044] In another aspect, user's locations can be identified via thelocation detection components 850 and 860. Thus, if a user were detectedwithin proximity to a device, the user's presence in proximity to thedevice can be utilized to establish further communications (e.g., ifuser detected near devices within 2 seconds after concurrent touch ofdevices, then establish further communications with all devices withinuser's proximity). In addition to location detection technology, othertechniques can be employed to determine device and/or user presence.This can include other sensors that may be employed by wireless devicessuch as accelerometers, piezoelectric devices, 802.11 signal strengthsensors, infrared proximity sensors, microphones, cameras, and/or touchsensors, for example.

[0045] In order to determine user presence, the location detectioncomponents 850 and 860 can include one or more models for reasoning orinferring a user's desire to pair or bond devices. Such models caninclude substantially any type of system such asstatistical/mathematical models and processes that include the use ofBayesian learning, which can generate Bayesian dependency models, suchas Bayesian networks, naive Bayesian classifiers, and/or Support VectorMachines (SVMs), for example. Other type models or systems can includeneural networks and Hidden Markov Models, for example. Althoughelaborate reasoning models can be employed in accordance with thepresent invention, it is to be appreciated that other approaches canalso utilized. For example, rather than a more thorough probabilisticapproach, deterministic assumptions can also be employed (e.g., no cellphone activity for X amount of time may imply by rule that user is notnear phone). Thus, in addition to reasoning under uncertainty, logicaldecisions can also be made regarding the status, location, context,focus, and so forth of users and/or associated devices.

[0046]FIG. 9 illustrates a methodology for biological bonding andcommunications in accordance the present invention. While, for purposesof simplicity of explanation, the methodology is shown and described asa series of acts, it is to be understood and appreciated that thepresent invention is not limited by the order of acts, as some acts may,in accordance with the present invention, occur in different ordersand/or concurrently with other acts from that shown and describedherein. For example, those skilled in the art will understand andappreciate that a methodology could alternatively be represented as aseries of interrelated states or events, such as in a state diagram.Moreover, not all illustrated acts may be required to implement amethodology in accordance with the present invention.

[0047]FIG. 9 is a flow diagram 900 illustrating biological bonding andcommunications in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.Proceeding to 904, electrical current flows is caused to flow betweenone or more wireless devices via a biological medium such as the humanhand or other body component. As noted above, biological bonding caninclude chaining of users and/or devices in order to cause the currentto flow between respective devices and/or users. At 908, current flow issensed by the biologically bonded devices. This can include currentdetectors, impedance detectors, or other devices capable of detectingwhen biological contact has occurred. Also, location detection can alsooccur to enable devices to identify themselves and discriminate fromother communicating devices. At 912, a configuration is initiated acrossthe biological bonding (e.g., across capacitive elements of body).

[0048] As noted above, configurations can occur through the body, acrosswireless connections after touching has occurred, and/or employingcombinations of touch connections and wireless connections. At 916,wireless communications are established after device configurations haveoccurred. At this point, further communications can occur across thebiological medium, across the wireless connection, and/or across boththe medium and the connection. If desired, a re-initialization or otherprocedure can be initiated by touching respective devices for apredetermined interval or sequence (e.g., if configured devices sensere-touch for more than X seconds, reinitiate configuration, if devicessense three taps on touch pad, reinitiate configuration or otherautomated procedure).

[0049] With reference to FIG.10, an exemplary environment 1010 forimplementing various aspects of the invention includes a computer 1012.The computer 1012 includes a processing unit 1014, a system memory 1016,and a system bus 1018. The system bus 1018 couples system componentsincluding, but not limited to, the system memory 1016 to the processingunit 1014. The processing unit 1014 can be any of various availableprocessors. Dual microprocessors and other multiprocessor architecturesalso can be employed as the processing unit 1014.

[0050] The system bus 1018 can be any of several types of busstructure(s) including the memory bus or memory controller, a peripheralbus or external bus, and/or a local bus using any variety of availablebus architectures including, but not limited to, 11-bit bus, IndustrialStandard Architecture (ISA), Micro-Channel Architecture (MSA), ExtendedISA (EISA), Intelligent Drive Electronics (IDE), VESA Local Bus (VLB),Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI), Universal Serial Bus (USB),Advanced Graphics Port (AGP), Personal Computer Memory CardInternational Association bus (PCMCIA), and Small Computer SystemsInterface (SCSI).

[0051] The system memory 1016 includes volatile memory 1020 andnonvolatile memory 1022. The basic input/output system (BIOS),containing the basic routines to transfer information between elementswithin the computer 1012, such as during start-up, is stored innonvolatile memory 1022. By way of illustration, and not limitation,nonvolatile memory 1022 can include read only memory (ROM), programmableROM (PROM), electrically programmable ROM (EPROM), electrically erasableROM (EEPROM), or flash memory. Volatile memory 1020 includes randomaccess memory (RAM), which acts as external cache memory. By way ofillustration and not limitation, RAM is available in many forms such assynchronous RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM),double data rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), enhanced SDRAM (ESDRAM), SynchlinkDRAM (SLDRAM), and direct Rambus RAM (DRRAM).

[0052] Computer 1012 also includes removable/non-removable,volatile/non-volatile computer storage media. FIG. 10 illustrates, forexample a disk storage 1024. Disk storage 1024 includes, but is notlimited to, devices like a magnetic disk drive, floppy disk drive, tapedrive, Jaz drive, Zip drive, LS-100 drive, flash memory card, or memorystick. In addition, disk storage 1024 can include storage mediaseparately or in combination with other storage media including, but notlimited to, an optical disk drive such as a compact disk ROM device(CD-ROM), CD recordable drive (CD-R Drive), CD rewritable drive (CD-RWDrive) or a digital versatile disk ROM drive (DVD-ROM). To facilitateconnection of the disk storage devices 1024 to the system bus 1018, aremovable or non-removable interface is typically used such as interface1026.

[0053] It is to be appreciated that FIG. 10 describes software that actsas an intermediary between users and the basic computer resourcesdescribed in suitable operating environment 1010. Such software includesan operating system 1028. Operating system 1028, which can be stored ondisk storage 1024, acts to control and allocate resources of thecomputer system 1012. System applications 1030 take advantage of themanagement of resources by operating system 1028 through program modules1032 and program data 1034 stored either in system memory 1016 or ondisk storage 1024. It is to be appreciated that the present inventioncan be implemented with various operating systems or combinations ofoperating systems.

[0054] A user enters commands or information into the computer 1012through input device(s) 1036. Input devices 1036 include, but are notlimited to, a pointing device such as a mouse, trackball, stylus, touchpad, keyboard, microphone, joystick, game pad, satellite dish, scanner,TV tuner card, digital camera, digital video camera, web camera, and thelike. These and other input devices connect to the processing unit 1014through the system bus 1018 via interface port(s) 1038. Interfaceport(s) 1038 include, for example, a serial port, a parallel port, agame port, and a universal serial bus (USB). Output device(s) 1040 usesome of the same type of ports as input device(s) 1036. Thus, forexample, a USB port may be used to provide input to computer 1012, andto output information from computer 1012 to an output device 1040.Output adapter 1042 is provided to illustrate that there are some outputdevices 1040 like monitors, speakers, and printers, among other outputdevices 1040, that require special adapters. The output adapters 1042include, by way of illustration and not limitation, video and soundcards that provide a means of connection between the output device 1040and the system bus 1018. It should be noted that other devices and/orsystems of devices provide both input and output capabilities such asremote computer(s) 1044.

[0055] Computer 1012 can operate in a networked environment usinglogical connections to one or more remote computers, such as remotecomputer(s) 1044. The remote computer(s) 1044 can be a personalcomputer, a server, a router, a network PC, a workstation, amicroprocessor based appliance, a peer device or other common networknode and the like, and typically includes many or all of the elementsdescribed relative to computer 1012. For purposes of brevity, only amemory storage device 1046 is illustrated with remote computer(s) 1044.Remote computer(s) 1044 is logically connected to computer 1012 througha network interface 1048 and then physically connected via communicationconnection 1050. Network interface 1048 encompasses communicationnetworks such as local-area networks (LAN) and wide-area networks (WAN).LAN technologies include Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI), CopperDistributed Data Interface (CDDI), Ethernet/IEEE 1102.3, Token Ring/IEEE1102.5 and the like. WAN technologies include, but are not limited to,point-to-point links, circuit switching networks-like IntegratedServices Digital Networks (ISDN) and variations thereon, packetswitching networks, and Digital Subscriber Lines (DSL).

[0056] Communication connection(s) 1050 refers to the hardware/softwareemployed to connect the network interface 1048 to the bus 1018. Whilecommunication connection 1050 is shown for illustrative clarity insidecomputer 1012, it can also be external to computer 1012. Thehardware/software necessary for connection to the network interface 1048includes, for exemplary purposes only, internal and externaltechnologies such as, modems including regular telephone grade modems,cable modems and DSL modems, ISDN adapters, and Ethernet cards.

[0057]FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram of a sample-computingenvironment 1100 with which the present invention can interact. Thesystem 1100 includes one or more client(s) 1110. The client(s) 1110 canbe hardware and/or software (e.g., threads, processes, computingdevices). The system 1100 also includes one or more server(s) 1130. Theserver(s) 1130 can also be hardware and/or software (e.g., threads,processes, computing devices). The servers 1130 can house threads toperform transformations by employing the present invention, for example.One possible communication between a client 1110 and a server 1130 maybe in the form of a data packet adapted to be transmitted between two ormore computer processes. The system 1100 includes a communicationframework 1150 that can be employed to facilitate communications betweenthe client(s) 1110 and the server(s) 1130. The client(s) 1110 areoperably connected to one or more client data store(s) 1160 that can beemployed to store information local to the client(s) 1110. Similarly,the server(s) 1130 are operably connected to one or more server datastore(s) 1140 that can be employed to store information local to theservers 1130.

[0058] What has been described above includes examples of the presentinvention. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivablecombination of components or methodologies for purposes of describingthe present invention, but one of ordinary skill in the art mayrecognize that many further combinations and permutations of the presentinvention are possible. Accordingly, the present invention is intendedto embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fallwithin the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to theextent that the term “includes” is used in either the detaileddescription or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in amanner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpretedwhen employed as a transitional word in a claim.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system that facilitates communications,comprising: a detection component that identifies N devices that arecoupled together via a biological medium, N being an integer; and aconfiguration component that initiates a configuration between a subsetof the devices.
 2. The system of claim 1, the devices are associatedwith a wireless network.
 3. The system of claim 2, the configurationoccurs across at least one of the biological medium and the wirelessnetwork.
 4. The system of claim 3, the wireless network is adapted tocommunicate across at least one of an infrared medium, anelectromagnetic medium, a broadband medium employing at least oneprotocol comprising Bluetooth, Wireless Application Protocol, IRIDA,802.11, and Ultra Wideband technology.
 5. The system of claim 1, theconfiguration component automatically configures at least one of acomputer, a laptop, a phone, a pager, a personal digital assistant(PDA), a keyboard, a mouse, and a headphone.
 6. The system of claim 1,the detection component is activated from conductive gloves or clothingthat facilitate coupling between at least one user and the device. 7.The system of claim 1, the biological medium transmits power, analogsignals, digital signals, currents, pulses, waveforms, and files.
 8. Thesystem of claim 1, further comprising at least one of a touch pad andcase material to supply contact points for the biological medium.
 9. Thesystem of claim 8, the touch pad or the case material include conductiveor semi-conductive media capable of facilitating current flow betweendevices and through the human body, the media including at least one ofcopper, gold, silver, conductive plastics, metal, conductive coatings,and laminates.
 10. The system of claim 1, the detection component senseselectrical activity from at least one of a chained biological medium anda chained device.
 11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a pulsegenerator that sends a device identification pulse derived from currentsensed by the detection component.
 12. The system of claim 11, the pulsegenerator transmits an initial identifying sequence derived from thecurrent and follows the identifying sequence by a configuration or othercommunication sequence.
 13. The system of claim 11, the current ismomentarily sensed and followed by a wireless exchange of configurationdata, the wireless exchange including an identifying sequence having atleast one encoded parameter.
 14. The system of claim 13, the encodedparameter includes at least one of timestamp information and counterinformation.
 15. The system of claim 1, further comprising a locationdetection component to facilitate device identification.
 16. The systemof claim 15, the location detection component enables communicationsbetween devices within a predetermined proximity of a fixed location.17. The system of claim 15, the location detection component identifiesa user's location to establish further communications with deviceswithin the user's proximity.
 18. The system of claim 1, the locationdetection component includes at least one of a Global Positioning System(GPS), an accelerometer, a piezoelectric device, an 802.11 signalstrength sensor, an infrared proximity sensor, a microphone, a camera, atouch sensor and an inference model.
 19. The system of claim 18, theinference model includes at least one of Bayesian dependency models,Bayesian networks, naive Bayesian classifiers, Support Vector Machines(SVMs), neural networks and Hidden Markov Models.
 20. A computerreadable medium having computer executable instructions stored thereonfor implementing at least one of the detection component and theconfiguration component of claim
 1. 21. A method to facilitate wirelessdevice communications, comprising: sensing when an electrical current isflowing between at least two wireless devices that are coupled by humancontact; and automatically establishing communications between thewireless devices upon sensing the electrical current flow.
 22. Themethod of claim 21, further comprising sensing the electrical currentfrom at least one of chained human contact and chained wireless devicecontact.
 23. The method of claim 21, further comprising automaticallyconfiguring the wireless devices via the human contact or a wirelesssignal.
 24. The method of claim 21, further comprising automaticallylocating at least one of a user and the wireless device in order toautomatically establish the communications.
 25. The method of claim 24,further comprising automatically reinitializing communications bytouching respective devices for a predetermined interval or sequence.26. A method to facilitate wireless device communications, comprising:means for determining when an electrical signal is active between atleast two wireless devices, the electrical is transmitted across a humanbody; and means for configuring the wireless devices upon determiningactivation of the electrical signal.
 27. A system to facilitate devicecommunications, comprising: a profile store to aggregate property keysrelating to sensed electrical properties of a user; and an analyzercomponent to identify the user based upon the property keys.
 28. Thesystem of claim 27, further comprising a processor to launch one or moreapplications based upon identifying the user.
 29. The system of claim27, further comprising an impedance detector to generate the propertykeys.
 30. The system of claim 29, the impedance detector analyzescapacitance, inductance, and resistance to determine a biologicalprofile for the user.
 31. The system of claim 28, the applicationsinclude at least one of a touch and bond application, a touch andaddress application, a touch and pair application, and a touch andidentify application.
 32. The system of claim 31, the touch and bondapplication includes at least one of an automatic login procedure and acustom interface procedure.
 33. The system of claim 31, furthercomprising an automated configuration application that employs theproperty keys for a network configuration.
 34. The system of claim 31,the touch and identify application includes one or more securityprocedures to enable or disable access to a computer or network.
 35. Thesystem of claim 34, the security procedures include at least one of anauthentication procedure and an authorization procedure.